Airplahe



K. HUNT.

AIRPLANE- APPLICATION FILED MAR-7,1921.

Patented Jan. 31, 192

Inven/por:

-shape.

UNITED stares- KATHERINEI-IUNT, 0F CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS.

AIRPLANE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Jan. 31, 1922.

Application filed March 7, 1921. SerialNo. 450,384.

cation, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The generalobkct of the invention is to produce an airplane which shallbe free from faults that are conspicuous in the case of air-planesconstructed as heretofore in practice; and also to provide an air-planeof improved character and construction, much safer, and having certaindesirable and important capabilities.

Special aims of the invention are to avoid the tendency to nose-divesand other erratio and dangerous, more or less uncontrollable, behaviorsuch as is observable in the shape of air-planes of the present popularFurther, to give capacity for ascending and descending more or lessdirectly and perpendicularly, and for poising in the air, as forpurposesof observation, photographing, etc. Further, to give greatersteadiness and stability, greatercontrollability as respects ascent anddescent, a capacity for support in the air independent of mere spreadand area of plane surface, capacity for easy and safe landing, etc; a

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawings,in' which latter,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of an air-plane containing the said embodiment.

Fig. 2 is a partly sectional side elevation of the said air-plane, I p

The airplane shown in the drawings is of the bi-plane class, it havingan upper plane 1 and a lower plane 2, these two planes being connectedtogether by means of: posts or upright rods 3, 3, etc. However, thenumber of planes comprised in the construction of a machine embodyingtheinvention is not material in all cases, but it is optional with thebuilder. The invention may be embodied in a mono-plane, or in a machinehaving more than two planes. The plane or planes with which the machineis provided inpractice will be contrived, arranged, etc., 111 accordancewith established principles to serve the usual requirements instraight-ahead and other flying, including ascending after the usualmanner. At 4; is represented a fuselage, which in practice maybe ofconventional or other approved form, etc., and contrived, etc., suitablyfor the accommodation of the pilot, and a passenger or passengers whendesired. At 5 is a propeller located at the leading end of the fuselage,mounted to turn in averticalplane around a horizontal axis and actuatedas usual by means of an engine (not shown) contained within thefuselage. The usual rudders, elevators or lifters, and otheraccessories, which in the present instance are more or less omitted fromthe drawings, will be provided in practice. V .1 In accordance with theinvention, I make the plane or planesrounded or disk-shaped, eithercircular in plan, as shown, or sub.- stantially so, although the shapemaybe more or less elongated transversely, i. e., elliptical. Thereby Iestablish equilibrium, and also eliminatethe corners which existsomewhat larger in diameter than the lower one, and this, combined withhaving the main weight of the machine located low down, secures betterequipoise or inherent stability-and balancing quality. Equalized orlevel and safe descent is attained by having'thew'eightof the engine andother load located in or near the center, and in the lower part of themachine. p

Further, I provide a centrally open dome or hell 7, below the lowerplane2 and supported by posts 8, 8, etc., extending down from suchplane. The upper portion of the dome or bell 7 isarched over inwardlytoward the center, the said portion being curved in verticalcross-section with its inner edge depressed so that it presents a downiturned vconcavity. VVheelsQ, 9, etc, mounted in connection with thelower portion 'of'this dome or hell, serve for the support, etch, of

the machine upon the ground. Dome or bell .7, byv reason of its inwardlyextending over arching upper portion with downturned'concavity, isadapted to have .a parachute-like action in the descent of theair-plane. Below itthe machine is provided with another proesrsnroiFiFlcE.

at the hack of a plane of the shape cusclose to the said plane.

peller, 6, arranged to revolve in a horizontal plane around a verticalaxis and located at a convenient distance below the fuselage, itsvertically arranged shaft having suitable engine-connections within thefuselage for driving purposes. The driving connections of'the twopropellers thus far referred to are under the control of the pilot bymeans of mechanical arrangements substantially as usual.

This horizontal'propeller 6 has a lifting power and is designed to beemployed for raising the air-plane vertically, and for controlling thedescent.

I preferably employ below horizontal lifting propeller 6 a concavedeflector 10 having its concavity upturned toward the said propeller.This deflector is somewhat less in diameter than the downwardlyextending skirt or flange of the dome or bell 7 and is located withinthe enclosure of the said skirt or flange.

The opening or interval between the arch of the dome or bell and theunder side of plane 2 is of proper'proportions to permit adequate flowof air radially inward to and through. the central opening of the domeor bell 7, and to the horizontal propeller 6. Theair thus flowing inwardwill exert an appreciable lifting force against-the under side of theplane 2. In addition to the lift ing action of horizontal propeller 6,the air deflected outward by the deflector '10 will exert more-or lessupward pressure within the arch of the dome or bell 7, with liftingeffect, and further lifting action will be secured through the reactionincident to down-flow of the air from the dome or bell.

Inoperation, the rapidity or speed of ascending, or descending will begauged by the speed of the horizontal propeller under the control of theoperator, who also will be able by properly proportioning the said speedto cause the machine to stand still,

or approximately so, at any altitude desired for observation, surveying,or photographmg.

- 11 is an apron or curtain that is connected with the top plane 1 at ornear the margin ofthelatter, and adapted either to hang down like anannular curtain from the said margin, as in Fig. 2, orrto be furled orotherwise gathered up and held against or I The said apron or curtainwill be made of suitable flexible material. The means for furling orgathering up the said apron or curtain, and keeping it in suchcondition, in practice will be arranged for manipulation by one oranother of the persons carried by the machine, and will be socontrollable as to enable the V apron or curtain to be released at willin order that it may drop into the position shown.

l/Vhile flying, the apron or curtain will be drawn up flat and closeagainst the bottom or under side of the upper plane out of the way, andso that it will not interfere with flying or observation. It is designedto be utilized with parachute-like effect for regulating and renderingsafe the descent of the machine, especially in the case of more or lessvertical descent.

The dome or bell 7 is somewhat less in diameter than the lower plane 2,so that the lowest portion of the machine is the small-est, which fact,in conjunction with the low location of the center of gravity,

contributes to the better equipoise and inherent side up.

The round or circular planes 1 and 2 have more surface for air buoyancyin proportion to the total width of machine than the narstability,insuring descent right row panel-shaped planes at present in use,

the lower in diameter, a lifting propeller,-

and a centrally-opendome or bell, less in diameter than the lower plane,surrounding and arching over said propeller, and also adapted to actwith parachute-like effect in the descent of the machine.

3; An air-plane having a plane, a lifting propeller, a centrally-opendome or bell surrounding and arching'over said propeller and alsoadapted to act with parachute-like effect in the descent of the machine,and a concave {deflector below said lifting 'propeller and within thedownwardly extending skirt or flange of the dome or bell.

4. An air-plane having a disk-shaped plane, a lifting propeller,a;centrally-open dome of bell surrounding and arching over saidpropeller and also adapted to act with parachute-like effect in thedescent of the machine, and a concave deflector below said liftingpropeller and within the downwardly-extending skirt or flange of'thedome or bell.

5. An air-plane having upper and lower disk-shaped planes, the upperexceeding the lower in diameter, a lifting propeller, a cen-.

- 1,405,030 a I B' downwardly-extending skirt or flange of the have aparachute-like action in regulating said dome or bell. descent of themachine vertically. 10 6. An air-plane having combined with the Intestimony whereof I afiix my signature margin of a plane thereof aflexible apron in presence of two witnesses. or curtain adapted to befurledior gathered, KATHERINE HUNT. normally, close against the saidplane where Witnesses: it will not obstruct or interfere with flying,CHAS, F. RANDALL, and to be dropped into working position to ELLEN 0.SPRING.

